Existing literature and research findings indicated that cost monitoring and control of construction projects by contractors at the level of site operations has remained ineffective largely due to inability of existing control systems to accurately predict when, to what extent and why an on-going operation or project is to overrun its planned duration and cost. In most cases the information that would enable such advance detection becomes available to decision makers after the affected operation or project is completed. It is then hoped that the information could be used to 'control' future similar situations which in the case of construction projects hardly arise, at least never under identical circumstances. The existing cost control systems also fail to enable rational corrective decisions to be formulated. This resulted in total reliance on previous experience and personal intuition to make a guess of corrective measures. Most research efforts have focussed mainly on various aspects of project modelling and cost control using traditional accounting approaches that consistently fail to meet the requirements and schedule of timely cost control. This research identified, from empirical evidence, construction and management science literature, the essential criteria and features of an effective cost monitoring and control approach for construction projects. The evidence from these three sources led to the formulation of an alternative approach based on quantitative analysis of cost data from construction projects. The cost monitoring and control process carried out on sites was formulated as a problem whose solution process is implemented using multiple regression and goal programming models and techniques that enable timely evaluation and prediction of costs and a rational computation of corrective decisions. This allowed cost deviations to be detected and optimum corrective measures calculated while the affected operation or project was still in progress.

Participatory budgeting (PB) is worth considering as a planning tool. It makes claims to encourage citizenship (Schugurensky, 2004), spark “transformative community development” (Lerner, 2006) and cultivate innovative forms of governance while improving the accountability of those already in place (Wampler, 2000, 2007; Wampler & Avritzer, 2004). In North America, PB is an overlooked public engagement mechanism that can introduce citizen input into place making and a timely participatory practice. This thesis seeks to understand current PB practice, and to propose a form and function of PB for Winnipeg. Empirical research of three PB examples (Toronto Community Housing, the Neighbourhood Support Coalition in Guelph, Ontario, and the 49th Ward in Chicago, Illinois) contributes to a proposed PB framework for Winnipeg that is tested with members of the community development sector in Winnipeg.

No description available.

This research was originally planned to study the implementation of the Modified Budgeting System (MBS) in hospitals in the Malaysian Ministry of Health, but as it turned out from the results of the intensive case study in the Sarawak General Hospital in 1994, MBS had not been implemented in the way intended by its architects. Thus, what has been observed is not an exercise in the implementation of a fixed technology known as Modified Budgeting System, but is a process of discovery of what MBS means and construction of what MBS can become. This research, therefore, analyses the processes involved in fabricating a form of responsibility accounting system in the Malaysian Ministry of Health. The Malaysian Federal Treasury introduced MBS in 1990 as part of a pilot project to effect changes and improvements to the management of resource allocation. The newly introduced MBS is a government-mandated budgetary reform and the Ministry of Health was selected as a pilot agency to implement the reform. This study analyses not only the outcome of the project but how it was implemented (or faced resistance), and also examines how ready the Ministry of Health was to accept the challenge of implementing a devolved budgeting system. The study is considered as important not only to the Malaysian Federal Government but also in terms of its contribution to the academic literature on budgeting in developing countries. No other study is known to have been attempted to investigate how MBS operates in practice in the Malaysian Ministry of Health or in any other organization in Malaysia that uses MBS. The research methods used were semi-structured interviews, reference to documentary materials, attending MBS workshops, attending management meetings and non-participant observation.

No description available.

Zugl.: Köln, Univ., Diplomarbeit, 1984

Thesis--University of Michigan. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 284-291).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed Feb. 7, 2006). "June 2005." Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-117). Also issued in paper format.

Thesis (M.S. in Management) Naval Postgraduate School, December 1999. / "December 1999". Thesis advisor(s): William Gates, David A. Smith. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-105). Also available online.

Thesis (M.B.A. in Financial Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Jerry L. McCaffery, Lawrence R. Jones. Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-130). Also available online.